SOUTHLAND PRODUCE AND STOCK MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 28

SOUTHLAND PRODUCE AND STOCK MARKETS.

(Fkom Our Own Correspondent.)

INTER CARGILL, December 37.

During the week there have been several inquiries for large quantities of oats, one corning from the Ea=t being for 4200 tons — half B grade and half f.a.q. I understand that our merchants ha^e quoted Is 8d for B grade and Is 7d for f.a.q., both f.0.b., s.i. There is still a strong demand from the North Island, but the slight increase in price by our local merchants prevents any large sales. Several small lots have been sold to Wellington at Is 7£d for B grade and Is 6Jd for f.a.q. Western Australia is also taking "lines of 300 to 500 bags at these prices. As merchants have been selling only f.a.q. and C grade during the last two months, stocks of these are running low, and if the above-mentioned order for 2000 tons is placed here prices to farmers would advance a little; but on the prices quoted values could not go up much more than Jd per bushel on trucks at wayside stations. There are still very few oats offering from the country, and there is not likely to be any quantity available till early in the year, when farmers will have time to take the threshing mills in. The Bluff stores are beginning to look empty and it is estimated that there cannot be at present more than 50,000 sacks of ail qualities, and it is not expected by merchants that many oats will be coming in before the grass is ready for threshing, which will be early in February, unless a decided rise in price takes place, which would warrant fanu.er.3 gojugi t« tfee feoubls of threshing qv»t

T earlier. Prices to farmers on Saturday were Is 3d for B grade,, and Is ljd to Is 2d for f.a.q. or C. grade. Anything tinder these qualities is hard to place, except at very low prices. Several parcels ot good B grade, or what coulcj ba termed low A grade have been selling about Gore as high as Is 4|d on trucks. These are being sent to Port Chplmers for shipment to the West of England. These prices are much above what local merchants can give, as at the . present time there is very little chance of a steamer going to the Bluff"to load either for Africa or West of England unless a straight-out sa'.e of a fairly large quantity could be made. Fowl wheat is ruling as high as 3s 2d f.0.b., s.i., and there is a good demand locally, 3s 3d' to 3s 3^d being easily obtainable. The chaff market has advanced a little, no doubt in sympathy with the high prices ruling in Dunedin. Several parcels of really prime quality have changed hands at £2 10s to £2 12r 6d on the trucks at wayside stations, though the bulk of the chaff offering is only n.ediuni quality, which can be quoted at £2 5s to £2 7s 6d on trucks. There is not much doing in the local stock markets, and prices remain the same as last week. A splendid line of 500 two-tooth hoggets were sold on account of Merrivale Stations to Messrs Begg Bros., North Hillend, Balclutha, t the price. I understand, being 15s 6d. Thesa sheep were just off the shears. A few lines of ewes with lambs have been selling at 24a to 26s (lambs given in), one \ery fine line of GOO ewes with about 150 per cent, of lambsbringing 29s 6d. Several lines of lambs for delivery early in February have changed handsi * at from 11s to 12s. Several northern buyers are now in this district endeavouring to buy this class of sheep.

Fat catt'.e are in good demand, and at the. last Wallacetown sale some extra prime quality sold as high as £10 12s Gd, but the average price for bullocks runs from £9 10s to £10 ss. There is practically nothing doing in store cattle. Several farmers have been selling their wool privately, and I understand the average for good even crossbred at present is 9Sd to lOd.